Long Beach State University Athletics
Photo by: John Fajardo
Lassina Traore Named Big West Newcomer Of The Year, First Team All-Big West Highlighting Three Honored With Postseason Awards
3/6/2023 4:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
A sophomore, Lassina Traore ranks in the top 10 in the nation in double-doubles and total rebounding.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State had three players earn All-Big West honors as announced by the conference office on Monday, with sophomore Lassina Traore leading sthe way as the Big West Newcomer of the Year and a member of the six-player All-Big West First Team.
Lassina Traore has established himself as one of the top big men in the country and a force at Long Beach State in just one season at the Beach. Transferring in from Saint Louis at the start of the year, Traore is one of just 14 players in the nation averaging a double-double at 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. His 17 double-doubles equal TJ Robinson for the Long Beach State school record in a single season, and rank 8th in the country.
The Big West's leading rebounder, Traore ranks fifth in the nation in total rebounds, and 19 rebounds across the postseason to set the Long Beach State single-season rebounding record, where he currently ranks fifth. Not just a rebounder, Lassina Traore has scored in double-figures in 25 of 33 games hits season and over 20 points on four occasions, including March 4 at UC Davis where he became the first player since Michael Zeno in 1982-83 for LBSU to have a 20/20 game.
Sophomore Aboubacar Traore sits only behind his teammate in the Big West in rebounding, and repeats as an Honorable Mention All-Big West pick. Increasing his offensive output to 10.2 points per game while continuing to rebound at a high level at 8.9 per game, second in the Big West.
His 12 double-doubles on the year also ranked in the nation's Top 10, and over the course of conference play, Aboubacar ranked in the Top 10 in the Big West in assists, steals and blocks and led the Beach in assists and blocks over the regular season.
In additional recognition of his all-around play, Traore became the first player in Long Beach State history to be selected as the league's Hustle Player of the Year.
Junior Marcus Tsohonis also earned Honorable Mention All-Big West honors. A transfer from VCU, Tsohonis is Long Beach State's active leading scorer at 14.4 points per game, and set the Long Beach State single-game record with 46 points on the road at UC San Diego earlier in the season. Tsohonis was Long Beach State's leading scorer nine times in the regular season and scored 20 or more points a team-high seven times on the year.
Long Beach State begins their postseason journey on Tuesday night, as the Beach takes on Cal Poly in the opening round of the Big West Championship from Henderson, Nevada. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. broadcast live on ESPN+.
Lassina Traore has established himself as one of the top big men in the country and a force at Long Beach State in just one season at the Beach. Transferring in from Saint Louis at the start of the year, Traore is one of just 14 players in the nation averaging a double-double at 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. His 17 double-doubles equal TJ Robinson for the Long Beach State school record in a single season, and rank 8th in the country.
The Big West's leading rebounder, Traore ranks fifth in the nation in total rebounds, and 19 rebounds across the postseason to set the Long Beach State single-season rebounding record, where he currently ranks fifth. Not just a rebounder, Lassina Traore has scored in double-figures in 25 of 33 games hits season and over 20 points on four occasions, including March 4 at UC Davis where he became the first player since Michael Zeno in 1982-83 for LBSU to have a 20/20 game.
Sophomore Aboubacar Traore sits only behind his teammate in the Big West in rebounding, and repeats as an Honorable Mention All-Big West pick. Increasing his offensive output to 10.2 points per game while continuing to rebound at a high level at 8.9 per game, second in the Big West.
His 12 double-doubles on the year also ranked in the nation's Top 10, and over the course of conference play, Aboubacar ranked in the Top 10 in the Big West in assists, steals and blocks and led the Beach in assists and blocks over the regular season.
In additional recognition of his all-around play, Traore became the first player in Long Beach State history to be selected as the league's Hustle Player of the Year.
Junior Marcus Tsohonis also earned Honorable Mention All-Big West honors. A transfer from VCU, Tsohonis is Long Beach State's active leading scorer at 14.4 points per game, and set the Long Beach State single-game record with 46 points on the road at UC San Diego earlier in the season. Tsohonis was Long Beach State's leading scorer nine times in the regular season and scored 20 or more points a team-high seven times on the year.
Long Beach State begins their postseason journey on Tuesday night, as the Beach takes on Cal Poly in the opening round of the Big West Championship from Henderson, Nevada. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. broadcast live on ESPN+.
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